Dallas County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

For a non-jury trial set on a day other than Monday, counsel must appear and announce at the day and time in the setting notice without further notification.

Whenever a non-jury case is set for trial at a time other than Monday, counsel are required to appear and make their announcements at the day and hour specified in the notice of setting without further notification.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Attorneys must notify the court if they will be more than five minutes late for a contested proceeding or plea setting.

Attorneys must notify the court when they will be later than five minutes for any contested proceeding or plea setting.

CRITICAL

Attorneys of record must notify the judges handling the earlier and later related cases that the later case is pending.

The attorneys of record for the parties in any case within the categories of Local Rule 1.07 must notify the Judges of the respective Courts in which the earlier and later cases are assigned of the pendency of the later case.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Counsel must call the court coordinator between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on the morning of a dismissal, disposition, or retain setting.

Dismissal, disposition and retain settings will be conducted by telephone. Counsel must call the court coordinator the morning of their setting between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must notify the Clerk of any change to counsel’s address, telephone number, fax number, or email address.

Counsel shall notify the Clerk of any change in address, telephone number, fax number or email address.

CRITICAL

Filing a motion alone does not remove a case from the dismissal docket; the party or counsel must follow up with the Court Coordinator to request a hearing and ensure removal.

Just filing a motion prior to the dismissal date will NOT remove your case from the dismissal docket. It is the party/counsel’s responsibility to follow up with the Court Coordinator to request a hearing and ensure removal from the docket.

CRITICAL

A Judge taking emergency action must notify the Court where the case is docketed at the earliest convenient and practical time.

Any Judge taking such emergency action shall notify the Court in which such case is docketed at the earliest convenient and practical time.

CRITICAL

Counsel engaged in another trial during the week must advise the Court Administrator when that trial is complete.

If counsel is engaged during the week in trial in another Court, whether in Dallas County or elsewhere, counsel shall advise the Court Administrator upon completion of such other trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must alert the Court as soon as practicable when a party, witness, or interested person has a specified language or disability-related need so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

(a) Counsel shall alert the Court as soon as practicable if a party, witness or interested person is not fluent in English or has a speech-related or hearing-related disability so that appropriate accommodation can be made, including accommodations in the appointment of a court investigator, court visitor, attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Phone

214-653-6581

Make trial announcements by contacting Court Coordinator Seth Little at 214-653-6581.

Announcements are made by contacting the Court Coordinator, Seth Little, at 214-653-6581.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Unless released by the Court, counsel must be available by telephone during the week their case is set for trial.

Unless released by the Court, during the week a case is set for trial counsel are required to be available upon a telephone call from the Court Administrator.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must promptly notify the Court when a bankruptcy concludes or the automatic stay is lifted as to a Probate Court case.

Once a bankruptcy has been concluded, whether by discharge, denial of discharge, dismissal or otherwise, or the automatic stay imposed by 11 U.S.C. § 362 has been lifted as to a case in the Probate Courts, Counsel shall promptly notify the Court so that the affected cases may be restored to the active docket or dismissed as may be appropriate.

CRITICAL

Attorneys must notify the District Clerk of any change to their address, email address, telephone number, or fax number.

Attorneys are required to notify the District Clerk of any change in address, email address, telephone, or fax number.

CRITICAL

Counsel in carryover cases must answer concerning trial readiness in the normal manner for the following week.

Counsel are required to answer concerning their readiness for trial in these cases in the normal manner for the subsequent week.

CRITICAL

All parties must announce their readiness for trial on the Thursday before the week of the trial setting.

All parties MUST make an announcement regarding their readiness for trial on the THURSDAY prior to the week of the trial setting.

CRITICAL

Counsel must promptly advise the Court Administrator of any matter arising during trial week that affects readiness or availability.

Counsel shall promptly advise the Court Administrator of any matter that arises during the week that affects counsel's readiness or availability for trial.

CRITICAL

Counsel in cases set for trial that week must announce readiness to the Court Administrator on the preceding Thursday and no later than 10:30 A.M. Friday, including confirmation of required compliance with Local Rule 2.08.

In all cases set for trial in a particular week, counsel are required to make announcements to the Court Administrator on the preceding Thursday and in any event, no later than 10:30 A.M. on the preceding Friday concerning their readiness for trial. Such announcement shall include confirmation of compliance with Local Rule 2.08, if such compliance is required in the case.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel, including self-represented litigants, must not communicate privately with the Court about the merits of a contested proceeding except during hearings or trial, through pleadings filed and served on all parties, when all parties are present, with absent parties' consent, or as authorized by rule or law.

The Canons of Judicial Conduct do not permit a judge to permit or consider improper ex parte or other private communications concerning the merits of a contested judicial proceeding. Accordingly, Counsel (including self-represented litigants) in contested proceedings shall not communicate with the Court in person, in writing, or otherwise regarding the merits of a contested proceeding, except (1) during hearings or trial, (2) through Pleadings filed with the Clerk and served on all other parties, (3) when all parties are present, (4) with the consent of parties not present, or (5) as otherwise authorized by rule or law.

CRITICALCivil cases

Self-represented litigants must provide current mailing, telephone, and email contact information where Court personnel and opposing counsel can reach them.

Self- represented litigants are required to provide their current address, telephone numbers and email addresses at which they can be reached by Court personnel and opposing Counsel.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Phone

(214) 653-6581

For inclement weather or other changes, call Court Coordinator Seth at (214) 653-6581.

In case of inclement weather or other changes, call our court coordinator Seth at (214) 653- 6581.

WARNING

If a Defendant does not announce by 10:30 A.M. on the Friday before trial week, the Court may deem the Defendant ready and proceed with testimony without the Defendant or counsel present.

If one or more Defendants do not make an announcement by 10:30 A.M. on Friday preceding the week in which the case is set for trial, the Court may deem said Defendant(s) to be ready and may proceed with the taking of testimony, with or without the presence of said Defendant or Defendants or their respective counsel.

WARNING

A participant must alert the court if they or another participant has the listed symptoms or has been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19.

Pursuant to Emergency Order of the Texas Supreme Court, any participant in a proceeding is required to alert the court if the participant has, or knows of another participant who has: (i) COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms, or a fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea; or (ii) been in close contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19.

WARNING

The Court requests that parties contact the clerks as far in advance as possible to cancel a hearing and cautions that a reset may not be immediate because the motion docket is often booked several weeks ahead.

Out of courtesy for the Court and the clerks, we request that you contact the clerks for cancellations as far in advance as possible. In addition, the Court’s motion docket tends to be booked several weeks in advanced, so if you cancel a hearing, please do not expect to get an immediate reset.

WARNINGCivil cases

A Judge who takes emergency action must notify the Clerk at the earliest convenient and practical time.

Any Judge taking such emergency action shall notify the Clerk at the earliest convenient and practical time.

WARNINGCivil cases

A party may request a telephone hearing or telephone participation for a short hearing that requires no evidence; the requesting party should make the request in writing to the Court and notify all other parties.

Any party may request that a short hearing, not requiring the introduction of evidence, be conducted by telephone conference call or that the party be allowed to participate in the hearing by telephone. The requesting party should make the request in writing to the Court with notice to all other parties.

WARNING

Lawyers must stand at counsel table when addressing the Judge and remain at counsel table while interrogating witnesses, except as needed to handle or display evidence as the Court permits.

In addressing the Judge, lawyers shall at all times rise and remain standing to address the Judge from their position at the counsel table. They shall remain at counsel table while interrogating witnesses, except as may be necessary to handle or display exhibits or other appropriate evidence, as permitted by the Court.

WARNING

Lawyers must not lean on the bench or engage the Judge confidentially unless the Judge permits or requests it.

Lawyers shall never lean on the bench or engage the Judge in a confidential manner, except by permission or at the request of the Judge.

WARNING

The Court does not conduct hearings by phone.

This court does not hold hearings by phone.

WARNINGCivil cases

A notice or communication sent to an attorney’s contact information on the Clerk’s records is deemed received unless it is returned, the fax line is disconnected, or an undeliverable email is received.

Any notice or communication directed to an attorney's address, fax number or email address indicated in the records of the Clerk will be deemed received unless the communication is returned, the fax line is disconnected or an "undeliverable" e-mail message is received.

WARNING

Counsel must not invite clients or witnesses into the court clerk’s office or Chambers unless directed by the Judge.

Counsel shall refrain from inviting clients and witnesses into the court clerk's office and the Chambers except upon the direction of the Judge.

WARNING

The lawyer commits to notifying opposing counsel, and when appropriate the Court or others, as soon as practicable when a hearing, deposition, meeting, conference, or closing is canceled.

I will notify opposing counsel, and, if appropriate, the Court or other persons, as soon as practicable, when hearings, depositions, meetings, conferences or closings are canceled.

WARNING

If the Plaintiff does not announce by 10:30 A.M. on the Friday before the trial week, the Court may dismiss the case for want of prosecution.

If Plaintiff does not make an announcement by 10:30 A.M. on Friday preceding the week in which the case is set for trial, the Court may dismiss the case for want of prosecution.

WARNING

Counsel are admonished to follow disciplinary rules concerning trial testimony and discussions of case facts or law with the Court outside the courtroom and without opposing counsel present; the Court may enforce those rules.

All counsel are admonished to respect the letter and spirit of all Disciplinary Rules including particularly those dealing with testimony by counsel participating in the trial and discussion of the facts or law of the case with the Court outside of the courtroom and not in the presence of opposing counsel, the Court may enforce the same by appropriate action.

WARNING

A ready announcement continues throughout the trial week unless qualified when made or later by prompt advice to the Clerk.

An announcement of "ready" shall be taken as continuing throughout the week in which the case is set for trial except to the extent that such announcement is qualified when it is made or later by prompt advice to the Clerk.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

If the case remains unassigned or unfiled, the defendant must telephone the county clerk’s office weekly to check its status.

If the case is still not assigned to a court or filed, the defendant shall be directed to telephone the county clerk’s office once a week to determine if the case has been assigned to a court or filed.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Telephone notice to counsel's office or another number counsel provides to the Court Administrator is deemed actual notice that the case has been called for trial.

Telephone notice to counsel's office or such other telephone number as counsel may provide to the Court Administrator will be deemed actual notice that a case is called for trial.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(214) 653-7556

Smaller motions are heard Wednesdays and larger motions Fridays at 9:30 a.m.; contact the clerks by phone at (214) 653-7556 to set a hearing.

The Court hears smaller motions on Wednesdays and larger motions on Fridays, both beginning at 9:30 am. To set a hearing, please contact the clerks at (214) 653-7556.

WARNING

The trial attorney should refrain from interrupting the Court or opposing counsel until the statement being made is fully completed, except when necessary to protect his client's rights on the record, and should

The trial attorney should refrain from interrupting the Court or opposing counsel until the statement being made is fully completed, except when necessary to protect his client's rights on the record, and should

WARNING

Counsel must address the Judge respectfully, properly, and impersonally at all times.

The Judge shall be respectfully and properly addressed at all times; and counsel shall be impersonal in addressing the Judge.

WARNING

The lawyer commits not to seek an unfair advantage by sending correspondence or copies of correspondence to the Court or its staff.

I will not attempt to gain an unfair advantage by sending the Court or its staff correspondence or copies of correspondence.

INFO

Any unqualified announcement of "ready" or "ready subject to" another Court engagement may be made to the Court Administrator in person or by telephone.

Any unqualified announcement of "ready" or "ready subject to" another Court engagement may be made to the Court Administrator in person or by telephone.

INFOCriminal cases

Courts should notify attorneys when a scheduled court proceeding will be delayed.

Courts should notify the attorneys when there will be a delay in a scheduled court proceeding.

INFOCivil cases

A party who wants a telephonic hearing recorded should communicate that request to the Court in advance.

If a party would like a telephonic hearing to be recorded, the party should communicate that request to the Court in advance.

INFO

Contact

Phone

Phone

214-653-6581

Individuals applying for the mediator or ad litem wheel should contact the court coordinator, Seth Little, by phone at 214-653-6581.

Individuals who wish to apply to be included on the Dallas County Court at Law No. 1's mediator or ad litem wheel should contact the court coordinator, Seth Little, at 214-653-6581.

INFOCivil cases

When an interpreter is needed, counsel should, to the extent possible, notify the Court in writing before the proceeding.

(b) If an interpreter (including sign language) is needed for a party, witness, or interested person, Counsel should, to the extent possible, notify the Court in writing, in advance of the proceeding, that an interpreter will be needed.

INFO

To reserve vacation weeks, an attorney may send a vacation letter to the Court Coordinator and opposing counsel.

Any attorney may reserve up to three weeks in any calendar year for vacations by sending a "vacation letter" for each case (with appropriate cause number and style) to the Court Coordinator and opposing counsel, reserving weeks in which no hearings, depositions, or trials are set as of the date of the letter.

INFO

An attorney with a pro bono matter on a multi-case hearing docket may inform court staff, and the court will attempt to move the matter toward the beginning of the docket subject to its other scheduling needs.

The civil courts of Dallas County encourage attorneys to represent deserving clients on a pro bono basis. An attorney representing a pro bono client on a matter, set for hearing on a docket for which multiple other cases are also set, may inform the appropriate court staff of his or her pro bono representation. The court will then attempt to accommodate that attorney by moving the matter towards the beginning of the docket, subject to the other scheduling needs of the court.

INFO

Lawyers, parties, and witnesses should not ask Court staff to notify them when proceedings begin or resume.

No lawyer, party, or witness should request any member of the Court’s staff to notify them of the commencement or resumption of any Court proceedings.

INFOCivil cases

An objecting party should notify the Court.

Any objecting party should notify the Court.